86. Shipments Of Money

The paying teller should have charge of all shipments of currency and securities, by express or registered mail. If these shipments are numerous, they should be counted and sealed by two clerks and such records made that each of them could make affidavit that the money, securities or other valuables said to have been enclosed, were so enclosed, and that the sealed package was not out of their possession until delivered to the proper express or registered mail clerk, whose receipt they can produce. Even if the clerks are never called upon to make such affidavit, the moral effect of the formality of the procedure impresses upon them the value of the property they are releasing possession of, and makes them careful.

87. Paying Teller's Records

The paying teller's records are very simple and include a cash book, a proof or settlement book, a certification book, a record of stop payments and his signature files.

His cash book is a little more than an enlargement of his proof, but it should be kept by an assistant so as to check his work. If he receives everything through the receiving teller, only a small portion of the page is needed for the debit or receipt side. He should, however, receive the clearing house credit and provision must be made for that. The credit side should be col-umnarized to provide space for charging the general ledger and each of the individual ledgers. This cash book should not be a posting medium, although it may be if proper space is left for explanation of general ledger items.

The teller's settlement book is the book upon which he makes his settlement or proof at the close of the day. He charges himself with the balance of cash on hand at the opening of business, with receipts of all kinds, and credits himself with all disbursements. The difference is the amount of cash he ought to have, which agrees with the general ledger. For convenience in making reports, the teller should keep his records of cash on hand, so as to show specie, legal tender notes, notes of other national banks, etc.

88. The Receiving Teller's Department

The receiving teller is the clerk designated to receive the deposits of customers of the bank. If there are two tellers, he should not be allowed to make disbursements under any circumstances. In a small bank, where there is not enough work to warrant a third, or note teller, he handles the work of the two departments, and is known as the receiving and note teller. The receivmg teller re-ceives and receipts for all deposits of customers and then passes the deposits along for credit to the customers.

A deposit slip containing all kinds of items he is liable to receive, is shown in Figure 60 on page 136. His first duty is to receipt in the depositor's pass book for the total deposit. Before giving the receipt he should count all the money, looking very carefully for counterfeits. He should check the other items listed on the deposit slip, making memoranda thereon when the depositor has not given sufficient information. He should examine all checks for endorsement, and see that the depositor's name appears on every check, as this is the only way that the check may be identified after it has once gone into the work. If the window business is very active, he will have to receipt for large deposits subject to inspection, but deposits made by customers who do not come to the bank often should be inspected at the time the deposit is made. As the items are checked off, the teller should drop them in a box with several compartments. The exchanges should be separated from the route or hand items, the foreign and the miscellaneous.

The Farmers & Savings Bank CO.

Figure 60. Deposit Ticket.